Metamorphoses of Power: Recruitment Print - Limited Edition of 5

Lana Evanova (born Svetlana Ivanova in 1979, Russia) is a contemporary Eastern European multidisciplinary artist. Coming from a family steeped in artistic tradition, Lana was deeply influenced by her creative roots. Her father, a gifted poet, penned numerous poems in honor of her mother, while her great-uncle earned acclaim as a novelist and screenwriter for Soviet cinema. Her grandfather, a painter, showcased his work in galleries across Russia. This rich artistic lineage has been instrumental in shaping Lana’s creative path, with her style reflecting a fusion of diverse movements such as Fauvism, Cubism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Pop Art, Contemporary Art, and the Russian avant-garde. Lana pursued her higher education at St. Petersburg State University, graduating in 2004 with a degree in International Relations. During her studies, she was part of an influential social circle that included notable figures like Ksenia Sobchak, who would later run as a presidential candidate in the 2018 elections. This formative period left a lasting mark on Lana’s artistic vision and life. Eventually, she embarked on a series of bold public exhibitions aimed at highlighting issues surrounding democracy in Russia. This body of work would later be known as Echoes of Activism. The exhibitions took place at symbolic locations in Moscow, such as the monument to Abai Kunanbayev and the "Singing Crane" fountain at Clean Ponds (Chistye Prudy). These sites were not chosen by chance: Clean Ponds is known as a hub for opposition activities and is home to some of Moscow's most influential and affluent citizens. This location notably served as the epicenter of the 2012 Russian opposition protests under the hashtag #OccupyAbai, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement. Since 2017, when her Echoes of Activism series began, Lana Evanova has addressed pivotal moments in Russian politics. That same year, she presented the collection Metamorphosis of Power, which depicted the figurative transformation of Vladimir Putin's face. In 2018, her paintings Antipodes of the Future attracted significant attention, featuring images of both Putin and Alexei Navalny—Navalny symbolizing the opposition and representing "a bright future" for the entire country. In 2019, Evanova showcased Connecting the Dots and This Could Have Been Love, exhibitions that explored how Russia might have evolved had its citizens elected a different president in 2018.